Spiral spring door closer

ABSTRACT

937,926. Hydraulically operated door closers. YALE &amp; TOWNE MANUFACTURING CO. Aug. 20, 1962 [Aug. 30, 1961], No. 31836/62. Class 65 (1). An hydraulically operated door closer comprises a casing 10 containing a cylindrical checking chamber 18 and a cylindrical spring chamber 17 at right-angles to it, an axially mounted crank-shaft 14 in chamber 17 whose square end 30 engages a star-shaped opening 52 in the closer arm 13 attached through adjustable link 15 to a bracket 16 on door frame F, a pin 27 of crank portion 26 of shaft 14 coacting with the bearing 40 of upwardly off-set connecting- rod 38 attached through wrist pin 46 to checking piston 47 so that rotation of shaft 14 against spiral spring 34 joining it to casing 10 is translated into axial motion of the piston 47. As the door closes the piston forces fluid through ports 48 past control valve 49; valve 50 allows free flow through the piston as the door opens. Cover-plate 19 may be removed to give access to cotter pin 27 detachably securing the forked end of rod 38 to crank pin 27. 0-rings 32 in grooves 33 on the crank-shaft prevent fluid seepage.

June 15, 1965 M. M. CHECK $188,683

SPIRAL SPRING DOOR CLOSER Filed Aug. 50, 1961 .2 Sheets-Sheet l L INVENTOR.

' M M Cms c June 15, 1965 M. M. CHECK 3,188,683

SPIRAL SPRING DOOR CLOSER Filed Aug. 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /2 /7. Cl/JCK United States Patent 3,188,683 SPIRAL SPRING DOOR CLOSER Mathias M. Check, Strailiord, Pan, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Yale & Towne, Inn, New York, N.Y., a company of Ohio Filed Aug. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 134,886 3 Claims. (Cl. 16-59) This invention relates to a hydraulic door closer within which are embodied a number of features in a novel and ingenious manner.

'Thus, as one feature of my invention, I contribute a door closer that may be readily inverted, making the door closer universal so that it may be applied to doors opening in opposed directions. I recognize that this particular feature is per se old in the art, but my door closer embodies this feature while still making possible the utilization of a spiral spring operating directly on the door closer shaft, with the door closer shaft being itself extremely short and connected in an ingenious manner e to the checking piston.

Thus, as a particular feature of my invention, I utilize a spring chamber that is generally cylindrical with its axis coincidental with the axis of rotation of the door closer shaft, which is in the form of a crankshaft. The checking piston of my closer is in a cylinder whose axis is at right angles to the axis of the spring chamber and the axis of rotation of the crankshaft. The cylinder extends from one side of the spring chamber, while slightly offset in a direction longitudinally of the spring chamber. Through use of a novel form of connecting rod, the crankshaft is readily assembled to a checking piston in the checking cylinder while making possible the utilization of a spiral type spring. The connecting rod is so formed that it presents a fully effective bearing between it and the crankshaft, for checking the closing movement of the door, while making possible the utilization of simple and inexpensive means for moving the checking piston during opening movement of the door.

Those persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that through a novel and unusual arrangement of elements, I contribute to the art a universal door closer that is ingenious in construction, operation and assembly,

utilizing a spiral spring and having an effective type of checking action that is operable through a crankshaft and connecting rod.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood,

and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is" based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention, in order to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing my novel door closer installed;

FIG. 2 shows my novel closer with parts in section;

FIG. 3 shows a vertical section;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing parts of my novel closer.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, I indicate the casing of my novel closer generally ice by the numeral 10, and I show the casing formed with flanges 11 that are secured to a door D as by screws 12. A shaft 14 rotates in casing it), that shaft being connected to door frame F through a more or less conventional arrangement including a closer arm 13, an adjustable link 15, and a bracket 16 on door frame F, all as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

My invention will be best understood if we first consider the features of the closer casing 10. Thus, as is well illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, I form the casing 10 with a generally cylindrical spring chamber 17, and a hydraulic checking cylinder 18 that communicates with one side of the chamber 17. In FIG. 3, it will be seen that the checking cylinder 18 is somewhat offset in an upward direction relatively to a mid point of the spring chamber 17, the upper side of cylinder 18 preferably being aligned with the upper end of the chamber, while the lower end of chamber 17 extends below the level of cylinder 13. The importance of that arrangement will be better appreciated as my description proceeds.

The casing 10 has a cover plate 19, well shown in FIG. 3, that is threaded into a large opening 20 at the upper end of the spring chamber 17. Cover plate 19 actually forms the upper end wall of spring chamber 17, but is recessed on its inner surface as shown at 21, forming an air chamber that can act as an expansion space for the fluid in the closer. It will be appreciated that the casing 10 will be filled with fluid to a level which is somewhat below the top of the air chamber at 21. When the fluid expands due to a rise of temperature, the fluid level will rise in chamber 21, the chamber then holding the fluid that will be needed in the closer when the temperature falls. So that fluid may readily be added to the closer, I show the cover plate 19 equipped with a filler plug 13a. In the cover plate 19, there is an axial opening 22 that forms a bearing for the closer shaft 14, while the bottom of casing 10 has a similar bearing opening 23 for the shaft.

The closer shaft 14 may best be seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Thus, I form a medial part of shaft 14 with a single, relatively long spring anchoring portion 24, in which there is a longitudinal slot 25. Immediately above the portion 24, as shown in FIG. 4, is a crank portion 26 including an integral crank pin 27. The crank portion 26 with its pin 27 is quite short axially. The shaft 14 further has opposed upper and lower shaft portions 23, 29 extending from the crank portion 26 and the spring anchoring portion 24, and adapted to be assembled for rotation in the bearings 22, 23 on the casing 10 and its cover, as shown in FIG. 3. The upper and lower shaft portions 28, 29 actually extend past the bearings 22, 23 outwardly of casing It), as shown in FIG. 3, each of those portions having an end part 31') or 31 exposed for assembly of the closer arm 13 and formed to key relatively to that arm. T o prevent a seepage of fluid outwardly past the shaft portions 28, 29, I prefer to utilize O-rings 32 that are held in grooves 33 in the shaft.

Referring again to FIG. 3, I particularly call attention to the fact that crank portion 26 of shaft 14 will be juxtaposed to the inner surface of the cover plate 19, and will take up merely a small space in the top of the spring chamber 17. I arrange a spiral closer spring 34 about the shaft portion 24, so as to lie in position between the crank portion 26 and the bottom of chamber 17. It will be seen that the space available for the spring 34 is quite long axially, despite the fact that in my invention the closer shaft 14 is unusually short. Thus, I am able to coil the spring 34 from relatively Wide steel strip. Since the bottom of spring chamber 17 is below the checking cylinder 18, it will be seen also that the lower end of chamber 17 forms a recess that can act as an expansion space'for the fluid when the closer is installed in an inverted position. Thus, with the closer inverted from the position shown in FIG. 3, the particular recess will be at the top of the closer, and the level of the fluid will rise and fall inthat recess in the same manner as was described in connection with the recess at 21.

The inner end of spring 34' has a hook portion 35, FIG. 2, that engages the slot'25, while the outer end of spring 34 has a hook portion 36 anchored to a ledge 37 on casing 10, whereby spring 34 when wound will act to rotate shaft 14 in a particular direction. It will be appreciated that the casing opening 20 will enable both the closure spring 34 and shaft 14 to be inserted into assembled position in spring c hamber 17, when the cover plate 19 is removed. As a further part of my invention, I utilize with the closer shaft 14 a novel connecting rod 38, that is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and in more detail in FIG. 4. The connecting rod 38 is arranged so as to be offset in an upward direction relatively to the axis of the checking cylinder 18. Also, I form one end of rod 38 with a fork portion 39 that is best seen in FIG. 4. The fork portion 39 contributes a bearing surface 40 for the crank pin 27 and has sides 41, 42 extending from the surface 40Vat the opposed sides of crank pin 27. Between the fork sides 41, 42, I assemble a member 43 that may very well be a conventional cotter pin inserted through openings 44 in those sides. The arrangement is such that the cotter pin 43 extends in opposed relation to the bearing surface 40 confining the crank pin .27 in the fork 'so as to connect one end of-rod 38 to closer shaft 14.

The opposed end of connecting rod 38 has a bearing portion 45 for a wrist pin 46 on a checking piston 47, that hearing portion 45 preferably being somewhat olfset to compensate for the upwardly offset arrangement of rod 38. I believe it will be unnecessary to describe the piston 47 in detaiLsince that piston may have a conventional'checking action that will be understood by persons skilled in the art. Merely for the purpose of disclosure,

I may indicate that piston 47 will act, incidental to the door closing movements of the clser, to force fluid from the cylinder 18 through ports 48, and past a valve 49 that will control the fluid flow and therefore the closing movement. Piston 47 has a check valve 50 that allowsthe fluid to flow freely through the piston as the door opens. Piston 47 and connecting rod 38 may be inserted through the outer end of cylinder 18 when assembling the closer, that end of the cylinder then being closed by a usual type of plug 51. 7

From the description that I have made, it will be seen that the crank portion 26 of shaft 14, together with the connecting rod 38, will overlie the closer spring 34.

Despite the fact that the closer shaft 14 is unusually short, the rod and-crank nevertheless will leave the greater part of the spring chamber 17 available for the spring 34 enabling me to utilize a single spring that is coiled from relatively wide steel strip material. It is exceedingly important to realize thatI achieve this while enabling the connecting rod 38 and crank portion 26 to be very readily assembled to one another. Thus, with the cover plate 19 removed, the rod and crank'are freely accessible and the cotter pin'43 can easily bemanipulated from above the casing opening 20, so as to connect the rod and crank.

When so connected, the bearing surface 40 will be fully adequate and eflective to accept the considerable pressures that are necessary to enable the crank pin 27 to push the rod 38'and piston 47. Then, the cotter pin 43 will accept the forces incidental to pulling of rod 38'and piston 47. i p V Thus far I have not described the securing of the closer arm 13 to the end parts 30, 31 of closer shaft 14. However, in the construction that-I prefer, each end part 30, 31 is square and adapted to coact with a star shaped opening'52 in the closer arm' 13, as shown for example in FIG. 1. Thereby the arm 13 can be assembled in different angular positions relatively to the closer shaft 14,

as may be required for different types of closer installation. Also, arm 13 can be assembled to the'part 30, 31 on either end of the shaft, allowing the closer to be inverted and in eifect reversing the action of the spring, so as toreverse the hand of the closer. To hold arm 13 assembled, I show in FIG. 3 a washer 53 that is held by a screw 54 threaded'into the end 30 of shaft 14. On the opposed shaft end 31, I show a decorative cup member 55 held by a screw 56, it being understood that cup 55 and arm 13 are interchangeable. Thus, through the assembly of the closer arm in different angular positions relatively to either end of the closer shaft, my novel door closer'will have practically.universal'application.

I believe it will be understood thatmy invention enables me to assemble ve'ry easily'a door closer that utilizes a single closer spring of the spiral type. That spring can be relatively wide, yet I can. make the closer shaft quite short, that being practicalbecauseof the novel arrangement of parts and connections that I have conceived. Actually, my closer will be quite low in cost, despite the fact that my construction will enable the closer to operate very well and to give exceedingly good service. Moreover, I achieve these thing'swhile makingmy'closer practically universal in application. 7

Therefore, I-be'lieve that those persons skilled in the art will understand the ,very' considerable contribution I have made to the door closer art, and-that the merits of my invention will be fully appreciated.

. Inow claim:

1.. In a door closer of the class described, a closer casing formedwith a checking fluid cylinder and a communicating spring chamber, a closer shaft mounted to rotate in bearings at each end of the spring chamber, said casing having at oneend of said chamber an opening and a removable cover plate on which the corresponding bearing is mounted, a crank portion'formed on the closer shaft in juxtaposed relation to'the coverplate in said chamber, a closer spring secured to the casing andto a partofthe shaft in the opposed end portion of the chamber, said spring acting to rotate the shaft in a predeterminedvdirection relatively-to'the casing, each end offthe closershaft extending, past the shaft bearings and formed outwardly of the casing with means for the attachment of a closer .arm, 50 as to enable the action of the spring to be reversed in effect so 'as to reverse the hand of the closer, a

piston inth'e fluid cylinder, a connecting rod extending in offset relation to the fluid cylinder'axis between the pis ton and crank portion of the shaft and leaving available for said spring a major part of the spring chamber, and means readily accessible for manipulation through the casing opening for assembling the connectingrodto the crank portionofthe. shaft when the cover plate is removed;

2. A universal door closer adaptedto be installed in either of inverted positions comprising,

a casing formed with a horizontal checking cylinder and a communicating, generally cylindrical, vertical spring chamber at one end of said checking cylinder, said chamber and said cylinder containing hydraulic checking fluid,

a cap closing one end of the vertical spring chamber and formed with a cavity extending above the level of the checking cylinder when the closer is installed in one position so as to contribute at the upper end of the chamber an expansion space for the fluid in the cylinder and spring chamber,

' a portion ofthe casing forming the lower end of the spring chamber and extending below the level of the cylinder when the closer is in said one position whereby to contribute 'a fluid expansion space at the upper end of the chamber when'the closer is installed in the other of said positions,

' a closer shaft positioned vertically in the'spring cham ber,

bearings for said shaft in the casing and cap at opposed ends of said chamber, opposed end portions of said shaft extending outwardly of said casing through each bearing for coaction with a closer arm,

a closer spring assembled in axial position about the closer shaft in the spring chamber and lying partly in one of said spaces that are effective as expansion spaces and partly coextending vertically with the checking cylinder,

a piston moving in the checking cylinder to and from a position that is closely juxtaposed to a vertical side of the spring in the spring chamber so as to have a relatively long stroke while making possible a short casing and a large diameter closer spring,

a connecting rod between the shaft and piston, said rod having one part connected to the piston and moving with the piston to a point juxtaposed to the side of the spring,

and a further part of said connecting rod moving in a line juxtaposed to an axial end of the spring and transversely offset relatively to said one part, so that there can be used a single closer spring that is relatively wide and that extends across a major portion of the checking cylinder, while also allowing the relatively long stroke of the piston.

3. A universal door closer adapted to be installed in either of inverted positions comprising,

a casing formed with a horizontal checking cylinder and a communicating, generally cylindrical, vertical spring chamber at one end of said checking cylinder, said chamber and said cylinder containing hydraulic checking fluid,

a cap closing one end of the vertical spring chamber and formed with a cavity extending above the level of the checking cylinder when the closer is installed in one position so as to contribute at the upper end of the chamber an expansion space for the fluid in the cylinder and'spring chamber,

a portion of the casing forming the lower end of the spring chamber and extending below the level of the 6 cylinder when the closer is in said one position whereby to contribute a fluid expansion space at the upper end of the chamber when the closer i installed in the other of said positions,

a closer shaft positioned vertically in the spring chamber,

bearings for said shaft in the casing and cap at opposed ends of said chamber, opposed end portions of said shaft extending outwardly of said casing through each bearing for coaction with a closer arm,

a closer spring assembled in axial position about the closer shaft in the spring chamber and lying partly in one of said spaces that are effective as expansion spaces and partly coextending vertically with the checking cylinder,

a piston moving in the checking cylinder to and from a position that is closely juxtaposed to a vertical side of the spring in the spring chamber so as to have a relatively long stroke while making possible a short casing and a large diameter closer spring,

and a connecting rod extending past said vertical side of the spring between the piston and closer shaft, in position allowing the use of a relatively wide closer spring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Examiner. 

1. IN A DOOR CLOSER OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A CLOSER CASING FORMED WITH A CHECKING FLUID CYLINDER AND A COMMUNICATING SPRING CHAMBER, A CLOSER SHAFT MOUNTED TO ROTATE IN BEARINGS AT EACH END OF THE SPRING CHAMBER, SAID CASING HAVING AT ONE END OF SAID CHAMBER AN OPENING AND A REMOVABLE COVER PLATE ON WHICH THE CORRESPONDING BEARING IS MOUNTED, A CRANK PORTION FORMED ON THE CLOSER SHAFT IN JUXTAPOSED RELATION TO THE COVER PLATE IN SAID CHAMBER, A CLOSER SPRING SECURED TO THE CASING AND TO A PART OF THE SHAFT IN THE OPPOSED END PORTION OF THE CHAMBER, SAID SPRING ACTING TO ROTATE THE SHAFT IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION RELATIVELY TO THE CASING, EACH END OF THE CLOSER SHAFT EXTENDING PAST THE SHAFT BEARINGS AND FORMED OUTWARDLY OF THE CASING WITH MEANS FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A CLOSER ARM, SO AS TO ENABLE THE ACTION OF THE SPRING TO BE REVERSED IN EFFECT SO AS TO REVERSE THE HAND OF THE CLOSER, A PISTON IN THE FLUID CYLINDER, A CONNECTING ROD EXTENDING IN OFFSET RELATION TO THE FLUID CYLINDER AXIS BETWEEN THE PIS- 